Euro 1964, 2008, 2012…
Spain have a chance to make it Euros number 4 in their history with a win tonight in the German capital.
Their first one came back in 1964, against the then-Soviet Union. Held in Spain, the trophy was known as the European Nations’ Cup and was won 2-1 by La Roja with goals from Pereda and Marcelino.
Their second triumph came a lot more recently, but not as recent as you’d like to believe, back in 2008. Spain, under Luis Aragonés, moved away from a tough, direct style of play to a version of what we’re used to today. In the final, against Germany, Fernando Torres scored the only goal that set them on an historic path to greatness.
A World Cup quickly followed, as did another continental trophy. This was Spain at their peak, in 2012, and an emphatic 4-0 win over Italy in Kyic cemented the Spanish generation of the time as potentially the greatest set of players ever to grace the pitch at once.
Now, they stand on the edge of greatness once again. While the win would not have the same sense of grandeur as their previous victories, it would open the door for an incredibly bright future and one to be excited about.
